Le Petit Chateau Venue Guide & Review
[Updated January 2024]
Le Petit Chateau is one of the most iconic and recognisable wedding venues in Northumberland (and this county has some really incredible venues!). It’s one of my absolute favourite wedding venues to shoot at and I couldn’t recommend it enough to couples considering it for the day.
In beautiful Northumberland at Otterburn, Le Petit Chateau is around 45 minutes drive from Newcastle Upon Tyne. There is parking for up to 27 cars (and parking attendants on your wedding day to facilitate) and while Le Petit Chateau is on a bus route, it’s most likely your guests will want to drive. The good news is the adjoining William de Percy Inn can accommodate, so it doesn’t necessarily mean they can't enjoy a tipple to celebrate your day.
Le Petit Chateau offers wedding packages and while prices for prime summer dates start at £18,995, you can choose a mid-week date or go outside the traditional ‘wedding season’ to bring the cost down a lot. They require a £1000 non-refundable deposit to save your date.
As part of the Apartment Group, with sister venues like Newton Hall, Lartington Hall and Runa Farm, you know these guys know how to put on a wedding. One of my favourite things about these venues is the Master of Ceremonies, who are the public face of the venue and play a pivotal role in the running of the day in addition to the Wedding Managers, who tend to be a little more behind the scenes. Together they will make sure your day runs smoothly for you.
Quick Round-up
Dedicated Master of Ceremonies, as well as a Wedding Manager
Up to 160 daytime guests
Choice of ceremony spaces including outdoors
Dog friendly
Incredible for photographs - the building, decor, gardens and meadow are all incredible for photo opportunities
Food is done in-house and is absolutely top-tier!
On-site accommodation
Le Petit Chateau Wedding Cost
Prices for a wedding at Le Petit Chateau are based on a ‘minimum spend’, with peak summer Saturdays currently having a minimum spend of £18,995. At the other end of the scale, a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during November-March has a minimum spend of just £3,995.
The minimum spend is made up of:
Venue Hire
Complimentary honeymoon suite (night of)
Complimentary bottle of bubbly
Dedicated wedding co-ordinator
Master of ceremonies
Menu showcase evening
Cake stand & knife
Table linen
Cutlery, china & glassware
Royal Mail Post Box
Lawn Games
Ceremony Hire
£350 for outside ceremony areas or the Belle Epoque
Food & Drinks Packages
Le Petit Chateau has a huge menu for a range of budgets, with a cost per guest so it’s easy to calculate.
Drinks packages are available
Additional Extras
Things like as a vintage Royal Mail post box, popcorn cart or lawn games
Things to note
You will also be contracted to a minimum number of bedroom accommodation. This is not included in your minimum spend and you’ll need to ‘sell them on’ to your guests to recoup the cost. In practice that just means your guests will book with the hotel, but if fewer rooms are booked than you are contracted for, you’ll need to cover the cost of those rooms.
View Le Petit Chateau’s Pricing Guide here.
Click here for a full Le Petit Chateau gallery
You’re really spoilt for choice when it comes to where to hold your ceremony at Le Petit Chateau, will you go for the classic Belle Epoque or opt for the stunning outdoor Terrace? It’s worth noting that the earliest possible ceremony time the venue can accommodate in either of these areas is 1.30pm. Prior to the ceremony, the bar will be open to welcome your guests as they arrive and the venue recommends guests arrive 45 minutes before your ceremony. From there, your Master of Ceremonies will make sure your guests get to your ceremony in plenty of time.
Belle Époque - The “usual” ceremony space, indoor with seating for up to 160.
Terrace - A good option if the weather forecast looks good
Your Ceremony
Can you have confetti at Le Petit Chateau?
Another common question is always about confetti. It can only be thrown indoors as you leave your ceremony. This means if confetti is important to you, you’ll need to use the stunning Belle Epoque for your ceremony. It also must be biodegradable & natural.
Registrar or Celebrant?
Before you confirm your date with Le Petit Chateau, you’ll need to check there is a registrar available to cover your ceremony. You can contact the Northumberland Registrars directly by calling 01665 602870. For 2023/24 Weddings, there’s a £45 non-refundable booking fee to secure your Registrar. You can then expect to pay Northumberland County Council between £510 and £595 for the service and ceremony fees, depending on the date you chose.
The exception to this would be if you were planning to have a celebrant-led ceremony - you’ll instead need to do the legal formalities at a registry office (in Northumberland this is only available at Alnwick registry office and only on Tuesday or Thursday mornings at a cost of about £57) and a celebrant-led ceremony will be much more personalised and bespoke. Some of my favourite north east wedding celebrants are Sarah Clarke, Lisa Wilson and Love Jo.
Wedding Breakfast
The Apartment Group proudly state that they offer “the largest range of options in Great Britain” for your Canapes, Wedding Breakfast and Evening Food. You can download their most recent Wedding Menu Guide here, and it includes per-guest costs for each option.
In terms of styling the space, you’re welcome to DIY it or hire a venue stylist (I would recommend this option as it takes away the stress of doing it yourself, and they’ll have a huge selection of items to hire, saving you from having to buy things you won’t need again.) Some of my favourite venue stylists in the North East are The Event Dressers, Birdcages & Dragonflies and The Whole Sch-Bang.
Couples often want to know ‘can you have real candles at Le Petit Chateau?’ and unfortunately the answer is no, but electric candles have come a very long way and look so realistic that I don’t think you’ll notice.
As for flowers, I can highly recommend Wild in Tyne as my ultimate fave florist (and all round lovely human!) and I also love Moira J and Purple Haze.
Party
After your meal, you and your guests will head back to the bar and outdoor terrace areas while the venue staff ready the room for your evening reception and any evening entertainment can get set up and sound-check.
Your Master of Ceremonies will let your guests back first and you’ll then be announced into the room, usually straight into the cutting of your cake and your first dance.
Whether you choose a live band - I can recommend Red Wings and the Folk Soul Brothers, or a DJ, Le Petit Chateau can accommodate. The bar will be open until Midnight.
Again, see the Le Petit Chateau Menu Guide here for evening food options and costs.
Staying at Le Petit Chateau
The venue has 19 boutique double bedrooms, including the honeymoon suite which you’ll have on the night of your wedding included as part of your package. Ordinarily prices for these would start at £140 for bed & breakfast, but speak to the venue coordinator about discounted rates for wedding bookings, as well as your contracted room requirements.
The stunning room 1 is the room you’ll have seen in wedding photographs, with the French wardrobe just perfect for hanging your wedding dress from, and the large sash windows letting in lots of beautiful light. This is the honeymoon suite.
Hotels near Newton Hall
Otterburn is not especially close to any big towns with budget-friendly accommodation options. The town itself does have a large number of hotels, B&Bs and holiday cottages though, so your guests shouldn’t find it too difficult to find somewhere to stay.
Photography
As a photographer, I look at venues from a slightly different perspective than you might as a couple. I’m looking for stylish decor, good light in the indoor spaces, areas big enough for your group shots etc. I can honestly say Le Petit Chateau is one of my absolute favourite venues to shoot at because even before couples add their own choice in styling and props, there is already so much to photograph.
Some venues feel a little bare, so unless you budget big for dressing them, they can feel a bit bland. Le Petit Chateau is so characterful and quirky, there are endless photo opportunities even before you dress the spaces.
Is Le Petit Chateau a good venue to get married at?
I couldn’t recommend it more highly. With options for every size, style and budget, Le Petit Chateau is an incredible choice. And when you add in the fact that the staff are so attentive, the food is so good and the decor is so stylish, I think it’s worth every penny you’ll pay for it, there is really nowhere else like it!
Useful Info
Le Petit Chateau’s own FAQs are available to download here.
Le Petit Chateau’s own Pricing Guide is available to download here.
Who am I?
I’m Alex Katherine, a Northumberland wedding photographer (and LPC fan-girl) based just 35 minutes from the venue. My style is candid and natural, with a focus on true colours in your final images (yeah, I’ll say it - I don’t think wedding photos should be super bright with washed out colours 😂).
You can find out more about me here and see what I offer here. I’d love to chat with you about your Le Petit Chateau wedding.